President Park Geun-hye left for the United States on Sunday for her first overseas trip since taking office.

Park will make her first stop in New York to offer encouragements for Koreans living in the city and meet with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss response measures to North Korea’s nuclear program.

She will then head to Washington to hold a bilateral summit with U.S. President Barack Obama on May 7, U.S. time, and issue a joint statement with Obama commemorating the 60th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries.

The joint statement will likely include plans to further strengthen the countries’ relationship.

The two presidents are also scheduled to discuss how to cooperate on North Korea-related policies, ensure peace in Northeast Asia, as well as working on a smooth implementation of the free trade agreement between the two countries.

A total of 52 people including heads of major conglomerates, small and medium-sized firms and the head of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions will accompany the president to the United States.

The Presidential Office hopes the delegation of business and union leaders will be able to ease foreign investor’s concerns about North Korea’s threats and provocations.